Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 2G3
literally unarmed. The following are a few of the verses he wrote on the
occasion of his capture : —
Mile mallachd gii bragh A thousand curses for ever
mile Diallac gu bra
Air a ghunna mar arm, On the gun as a weapon,
ayr a yunna mar arm
'N deigh a mheallaidh 's an tair a After the deception and degradation
'n dey' a vellay' san tayr a I have met with. —
fhuair mi. — Mile, etc. A thousand, etc.
hu-ayr mi
Ged a gheabhaiu dhomh fein Had I been offered
ged a yev-ayn yov feyn
Lan buaile de spreidh, A fold of cattle,
laa bu-ayle de sprey'
B' annsa claidheamh le sgeidh 's an I would have preferred a sword and
bannsa clay'-ev le sge' san target at that moment. —
uair ad. — Ge, etc. Had, etc.
u-ayr ad
Bha tri fiched is triuir There were three-score and three
va tri fich-ed ia tri-uyr
Ga 'm ruidh feadh nan lub, Chasing me along the windings of the
gam ruy' fe' nan lub river
Gus'ndobhuiniadmolusleluathasuam. Until they won my strength from me
gus 'n do Tuyn i-ad mo lus le lu'-as u-am \}y speed. —
Bha, etc. There, etc.
Kigh ! gur mise a bha nar Kigh ! but I was ashamed
ri' gur mise a va nar
Noir a ghlachd iad mi slan When they caught me alive
noyr a ylac i-ad mi slau
'S nach tug mi fear ban na ruadh dhiu. Without losing a man, fair or red. —
snaoh tug mi fer ban na ru-a' yi-u
Righ, etc. Righ, etc.
Na 'm biodh fios mi bhi 'n laimh. Were it known that I am imprisoned,
na m bi-o' fis mi vi'n layv
'S iomadh Domhnalach ard. Many is the lofty Macdonald
si-oma' dovnalach ard
A ghabha mo phairt 's an uairsa. That would take my part in this strait
a yava mo Diyrt a an u-ayrsa
Na, etc. Were, etc.
Agus maighdhean dheas ur, And many a maiden fresh and symmet-
agus mayden yes ur rical.
Is ard beachd 's as caoin gnuis, Of a lofty mind and a mild face,
ia ard bee a aa caoyn gnuya